Swiss Tourist Gang-raped in Madhya Pradesh

A 39-year-old Swiss adventure tourist was gang-raped by a group of eight persons at a forest area in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh on Friday night. Around 15 suspects have been rounded up the police so far.

BHOPAL: A 39-year-old Swiss adventure tourist was gang-raped by a group of eight persons at a forest area in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh on Friday night. Around 15 suspects have been rounded up the police so far.

The incident occurred at around 9 pm at a deserted spot in the jungle close to Sewda road where the woman had camped with her husband for the night while they were on their way from Orcha. They came to India for adventure tourism three months ago.

The couple were travelling by bicycle from the temple town to Sewda road when they stopped to camp near the forest. In her statement to the police, the victim said that while on their way from Orcha the found the spot - 10 km from district headquarters -suitable for camping and to spend the night. Her husband told police that four persons committed the rape while the rest held them.

The accused - around eight in number -allegedly raped her, assaulted her husband and made away with their belongings that includes cash, laptop, camera, torches and mobile phones, Inspector general Chambal range (IG) S M Afzal Datia told TOI. They attacked her with canes and other weapons, he said.

The victim was rushed to Gwalior district hospital, where doctors confirmed rape and assault with bruise marks all over her body.

Director General of police (DGP) Nandan Kumar Dubey said that suspects have been identified and they would be arrested at the earliest. They matter has also been reported to the minister of external affairs and embassy, he said.

This is the second incident where in a foreign tourist has been raped in Madhya Pradesh in the recent past. Earlier it was a North Korean woman who was raped by a hotel manager in Umeria district.